Laser cutoff stacker assembly

Abstract

The present invention contemplates a machine and method for performing the laser sealing and laser cutting of flexible material into segments, such as a polymeric web in which the segments will ultimately be individual bags. The machine includes a generally cylindrical drum having openings on an exterior surface. A laser produces a laser beam that contacts the flexible material while the flexible material is being held on the drum. The drum is preferably comprised of drum sections that can be independently moved in the radial direction. The machine includes a cam system causing the drum sections to be sequentially moved in the radial direction. Typically, this radial movement is for the purpose of releasing the individual segments of the flexible material that have been cut by the laser.

1. A machine for cuffing flexible material into segments, comprising:
 a drum having a plurality of drum sections, each drum section having a circumferentially-extending engaging structure defining a generally cylindrical exterior surface of said drum for engaging said flexible material, each circumferentially-extending engaging structure having a circumferential dimension corresponding to at least one segment of the flexible material, each of said drum sections including a cam follower and being coupled to a central axle; 
 a laser for producing a laser beam that processes said flexible material into the segments while said flexible material is on said exterior surface; and 
 a cam adjacent to said central axle for contacting said cam followers, said cam being configured to sequentially move each circumferentially-extending engaging structure of said drum sections radially outward to a release region at which segments of said flexible material on said drum sections thereon are released to a collection station. 
 
     
     
       2. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said drum sections momentarily reach a dwell point in response to said cam engaging said cam followers. 
     
     
       3. The machine of  claim 2 , wherein said dwell point occurs at said release region. 
     
     
       4. The machine of  claim 3 , wherein flexible material is a polymeric web and said segments are bags created from said web of material. 
     
     
       5. The machine of  claim 4 , wherein each of said drum sections is coupled to said central axle via a spring-loaded coupling. 
     
     
       6. The machine of  claim 5 , wherein said spring-loaded coupling includes a first pivotable connection and a first spring connection. 
     
     
       7. The machine of  claim 6 , wherein said first spring connection urges said drum sections radially inward after engagement with said cam. 
     
     
       8. The machine of  claim 1 , further including a second cam for moving said drum sections radially outward a second time in one revolution of said central axle. 
     
     
       9. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said laser cuts said flexible material into said segments. 
     
     
       10. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein each circumferentially-extending engaging structure includes at least one aperture for providing a suction force to maintain engagement with said flexible material. 
     
     
       11. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said collection station includes fingers for removing said segments from said drum. 
     
     
       12. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the laser beam is projected from an interior of the drum to cut the flexible material into individual segments. 
     
     
       13. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of said drum sections moves radially outward upon engaging a lobe of the cam. 
     
     
       14. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein each of said drum sections moves radially outward at a plurality of circumferential locations. 
     
     
       15. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein a first drum section is moved radially outward to said release region, while said drum sections adjacent to said first drum section remain in position to define said generally cylindrical surface. 
     
     
       16. A machine for cutting flexible material into segments, comprising:
 a drum having a plurality of drum sections, each drum section having a circumferentially-extending engaging structure defining a generally cylindrical exterior surface of said drum for engaging said flexible material, each circumferentially-extending engaging structure having a circumferential dimension corresponding to at least one segment of the flexible material; 
 a laser for producing a laser beam that processes said flexible material into the segments while said flexible material is on said exterior surface; and 
 a path along which said drum sections cyclically move, a first portion of said path being curvilinear along which said segments are cut, a second portion of said path being radially outward from said first portion along which the segments release from the drum sections, said circumferentially-extending engaging structure of said drum sections transitioning from said first portion to said second portion in response to a cam follower on said drum sections engaging a cam. 
 
     
     
       17. The machine of  claim 16 , wherein said second portion includes a release region at which said segments are released to a collection station. 
     
     
       18. The machine of  claim 17 , wherein said second portion includes a dwell point at said release region, said drum sections being momentarily motionless at said dwell point. 
     
     
       19. The machine of  claim 16 , wherein said segments are held on said drum sections via a suctioning system. 
     
     
       20. The machine of  claim 16 , further including a spring for each of said drum sections for returning said drum sections to said first portion of said path after passing through said second portion of said path. 
     
     
       21. The machine of  claim 16 , wherein the laser beam is projected from an interior of the drum to cut the flexible material into individual segments. 
     
     
       22. The machine of  claim 16 , wherein a first drum section is moved radially outward from said first portion of the path to said second portion of said path, while said drum sections adjacent to said first drum section remain disposed in said first portion of said path. 
     
     
       23. The machine of  claim 16 , wherein said second portion of said path extends less than 180 degrees around said path which said drum sections cyclically move.